SSW Type 1 vs Type 2 in Japan

SSW Type 1 vs Type 2 is mainly about time, skill level, and eligible fields. 特定技能1号 2号 違い (tokutei ginō ichigō nigō chigai) comes down to this: Type 1 is generally capped at a total of 5 years, while Type 2 is for more skilled workers and has listed periods of stay of 3 years, 2 years, 1 year, or 6 months.

If your goal is to work in Japan in an SSW field, SSW Type 1 may be the first category to understand. If your field accepts Type 2 and you can meet the higher skill standard, SSW Type 2 is the next category to examine carefully.

Quick comparison: SSW Type 1 vs Type 2

Japan’s official name for the status is 特定技能 (tokutei ginō), or Specified Skilled Worker. The Immigration Services Agency describes Specified Skilled Worker Type 1 as work in designated industrial fields that requires “a considerable degree of knowledge or experience,” while Specified Skilled Worker Type 2 is for work requiring “skilled” ability in designated fields.

In practical terms, Type 1 is the entry route for many workers in SSW fields. Type 2 is a higher-level route for people who can prove more advanced skill and experience in a field that accepts Type 2 workers.

Residence period caps: the biggest practical difference

The most important SSW type 1 vs type 2 difference is the residence period. For SSW Type 1, the official page states that the period of stay is individually designated by the Minister of Justice within a range not exceeding 3 years.

However, that does not mean you can keep renewing Type 1 forever. The same official page notes that residence under SSW Type 1 must generally be within a total of 5 years. It also tells readers to check the rules on total periods of stay for cases where residence beyond the total 5 years may be possible.

For SSW Type 2, the official periods of stay are 3 years, 2 years, 1 year, or 6 months. The page does not state a Type 2 total maximum in the same way as the Type 1 note.

That makes Type 2 different for planning under the SSW framework. If you are considering Type 2, you need to confirm that your field is eligible and that you can meet the Type 2 skill standard.

Skill level and the additional test for Type 2

Another core 特定技能1号 2号 違い is the skill standard. Type 1 requires a certain level of knowledge or experience in the field, but Type 2 requires a higher, “skilled” level.

The Immigration Services Agency explains that SSW Type 2 workers must have skilled ability. It describes this as a level developed through long practical experience, such as being able to perform advanced specialized or technical work based on one’s own judgment, or perform skilled work while supervising operations.

The same official page states that whether a person meets the Type 2 skill level is confirmed by an exam and practical experience. This is the key “additional skill test” issue for workers who want to move from SSW Type 1 to SSW Type 2.

The exact exam and experience details are not identical for every field. The official source says the work, exams, and practical experience details are set in the field-specific operation policies and guidelines.

So the practical answer is: you do not become Type 2 just because you finish years on Type 1. You need to qualify under the Type 2 rules for your field, including the relevant exam and practical experience confirmation.

Which industries currently accept SSW Type 2 workers?

The current SSW application page lists the fields for which Type 2 application materials are provided. As of the official page used here, SSW Type 2 fields are:

• Building cleaning
• Industrial product manufacturing
• Construction
• Shipbuilding and ship machinery
• Automobile maintenance
• Aviation
• Accommodation
• Agriculture
• Fishery
• Food and beverage manufacturing
• Food service

There is an important note for industrial product manufacturing. The official page states that only the business categories of machine and metal processing, electrical and electronic equipment assembly, and metal surface treatment are covered for SSW Type 2 in that field.

This list matters because SSW Type 2 is not available in every SSW Type 1 field shown on the application page. For example, the Type 1 application-material list includes fields such as nursing care, linen supply, automobile transport, railway, forestry, and wood industry, but these are not shown in the Type 2 list on the same page.

The 2023 Cabinet decision page explains the background. It says Type 2 was expanded beyond construction and part of shipbuilding/ship machinery to include additional fields such as building cleaning, manufacturing, automobile maintenance, aviation, accommodation, agriculture, fishery, food and beverage manufacturing, and food service, and that the handling started after the relevant ordinance amendments came into force on August 31, 2023 (Immigration Services Agency).

Step-by-step: how to think about moving from Type 1 to Type 2

Moving from SSW Type 1 to Type 2 is not just a renewal. It is a status strategy that should be checked field by field.

Step 1: Confirm your current SSW field

First, identify the exact field under which you hold or plan to hold SSW Type 1. The official application page separates required documents by field, so the field is not just a label; it affects what you must submit and which rules apply.

Step 2: Check whether your field accepts Type 2

Next, compare your field with the Type 2 list. If your field is not listed for Type 2, you cannot rely on Type 2 as your route within that field based on the official application page.

Step 3: Check your work category

Some fields have category-level limits. Industrial product manufacturing is the clearest example on the official page, because Type 2 is limited to specified business categories within that field.

Step 4: Prepare for the Type 2 skill confirmation

The official expansion page states that Type 2 skill level is confirmed by exam and practical experience. This means you should not wait until the end of your Type 1 period to ask about testing.

Your employer, field organization, or the ministry responsible for the field may have operational details for the relevant exam. The Immigration Services Agency source points readers to field-specific operation policies and guidelines for those details.

Step 5: File the correct immigration application

If you already hold another status in Japan and will change your activity to SSW, the official page provides for a Change of Status of Residence application. If you are already on SSW and continuing the same status activity, it provides for a Period of Stay Renewal application.

For Type 2, the application table separates the applicant documents, accepting organization documents, and field documents. The official page also states that when a person other than the applicant submits documents, identity-confirming documents may be required to confirm that the person is allowed to submit them.

Document checklist: what the official page tells you to expect

The official SSW page does not give one universal short document list that covers every worker in every field. Instead, it points applicants to the relevant “list and confirmation table” for SSW residence applications.

For SSW Type 2, the official application page organizes documents into three broad groups for both Certificate of Eligibility and Change of Status applications:

• Documents about the applicant
• Documents about the accepting organization
• Documents about the field
• A photo meeting the specified standards
• Application form for the relevant procedure
• Passport and residence card presentation when applying for change or renewal in Japan

For a Change of Status of Residence application, the page states that the applicant’s passport and residence card are presented. For a renewal application, it also lists the renewal application form, photo, and presentation of the passport and residence card.

The key practical point is that Type 2 is document-heavy because it is not only about you. Immigration also checks the accepting organization and the field-specific requirements.

Practical decision guide: which status should you target?

If you are new to the SSW system, Type 1 may be the realistic first target. It is the broader entry category for work requiring knowledge or experience in designated industrial fields.

If you are already experienced in your field, or you are approaching the Type 1 total residence limit, you should check whether your field has a Type 2 route. Do this early, because Type 2 depends on exams, practical experience, and field-specific rules.

If your field does not accept Type 2, you should not assume there is an SSW Type 2 pathway in that field. You may need to consider whether another residence status fits your situation, but only if your actual work and qualifications support it.

FAQ

What is the main difference between SSW Type 1 and Type 2?

The main difference is that SSW Type 1 is generally limited to a total stay of up to 5 years, while SSW Type 2 has listed periods of stay of 3 years, 2 years, 1 year, or 6 months and is designed for a higher skilled level.

Can I renew SSW Type 1 after 5 years?

The official rule says SSW Type 1 residence must generally be within a total of 5 years. The official page also tells applicants to check the rules on total periods of stay for cases where residence beyond the total 5 years may be possible.

What are the specified skilled worker 2 requirements?

Specified skilled worker 2 requirements include skilled ability in an eligible field. The Immigration Services Agency says this level is confirmed by an exam and practical experience, with details set by each field.

Which industries accept SSW Type 2 workers?

The official application page lists Type 2 fields including building cleaning, industrial product manufacturing, construction, shipbuilding and ship machinery, automobile maintenance, aviation, accommodation, agriculture, fishery, food and beverage manufacturing, and food service. Industrial product manufacturing is limited to specified business categories for Type 2.

Does the official SSW Type 2 page state a Type 1-style total 5-year limit?

The official status page states that SSW Type 1 residence must generally be within a total of 5 years. For SSW Type 2, the same page lists periods of stay of 3 years, 2 years, 1 year, or 6 months, and does not state a Type 1-style total 5-year rule in that section.

Common questions